The role of gonadotropins and testosterone in progesterone production by human ovarian granulosa cells.
Granulosa and theca cells obtained from patients were isolated and cultivated in a chemically defined medium containing gonadotropins and/or testosterone. Progesterone secretion by granulosa cells was consistently stimulated (2-40-fold) in all 5 patients by the addition of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, 0.25 micrograms/ml). In the presence of testosterone (0.5 micro M) alone, progesterone production was stimulated (2-8-fold) in 4 out of the 5 patients and cells of one patient showed a greater response to testosterone than to FSH alone. In 2 of the 5 patients, it was also noted that FSH and testosterone acted in a synergistic manner to stimulate the production of progesterone by granulosa cells. On the other hand, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, 1.0 IU/ml) alone failed to exert any significant effect. None of the treatments examined altered the production of progesterone by theca cells. These results suggest a role for FSH and testosterone in regulating progesterone biosynthesis by granulosa cells of the human ovary during follicular development.
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011374:Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone